Jankovic, Davenport Make Winning Start to US Open, Chakvetadze Falls!

August 25th, 2008 New York City, USA

The year's last Grand Slam began today in Flushing Meadows, New York City. In action was American hopeful Lindsay Davenport as well as the number 2 player in the world, Jelena Jankovic. Recent Pilot Pen Title winner, Caroline Wozniacki was also out on the courts as was Gold Medalist Elena Dementieva.

Dementieva started the day on Arthur Ashe Stadium and was up against a powerful but slow, Akgul Amanmuradova. Dementieva looked a little sluggish, most likely due to jet lag coming back from the Olympics only a week earlier. Struggling a bit, the Russian was more consistent than her opponent which allowed her to win with a 6-4, 7-5 scoreline. Lindsay Davenport was up next and was facing against Canadian and Bank of the West Classic winner, Aleksandra Wozniack. Davenport who has only played one match since April also looked a bit sluggish in her opening round, but eventually after 5 match points the American won, 6-4, 6-2.

The big upset of the day came when Anna Chakvetadze who has been having a slow and lackluster year faltered and fell in the first round. A year ago, she reached the US Open Semi-Finals and usually is comfortable on the hardcourts at the Open. Never getting into steady play, her Russian opponent, Ekaterina Makarova defeated her 1-6, 6-2, 6-3. Svetlana Kuznetsova, the winner in 2004 and finalist last year won comfortably over Shaui Zhang, 6-4, 6-2. Caroline Wozniacki also won, over Ahsha Rolle 6-2, 6-1. In the Night Match, Jelena Jankovic defeated hard hitting 16 year old, Coco Vandeweghe 6-3, 6-1.

Tomorrow Ana Ivanovic and the Williams Sisters take to the court where they will all be trying to start their quest for yet another Grand Slam to add to their resumes.

Results:

Arthur Ashe Stadium:

(5)Elena Dementieva d. Akgul Amanmuradova - 6-4, 7-5
(23)Lindsay Davenport d. Aleksandra Wozniack - 6-4, 6-2
(2)Jelena Jankovic d. Coco Vandeweghe - 6-3, 6-1

Louis Armstrong Stadium:

(3)Sveltana Kuznetsova d. Shaui Zhang - 6-4, 6-2
Ekaterina Makarova d. (10)Anna Chakvetadze - 1-6, 6-2, 6-3

Grandstand:

Na Li d. (24)Shahar Peer - 2-6, 6-0, 6-1
(21)Caroline Wozniacki d. Ahsha Rolle - 6-2, 6-1

Court 4:

Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova d. Vania King - 6-2, 4-6, 6-2
Virginia Ruano Pascual d. Petra Kvitova - 6-7(3), 6-3, 6-3

Top 10 Seeds:

1. Ana Ivanovic - Round 1
2. Jelena Jankovic - Round 2
3. Svetlana Kuznetsova - Round 2
4. Serena Williams - Round 1
5. Elena Dementieva - Round 2
6. Dinara Safina - Round 1
7. Venus Williams - Round 1
8. Vera Zvonareva - Round 2
9. Agnieszka Radwanska - Round 1
10. Anna Chakvetadze - Lost Round 1 (Makarova)